Adjustable frame power mower



Jan. 5, 1954 w. H. PHL-:LPS

ADJUSTABLE FRAME POWER NIOWER Filed May 20, 1950 2 Sheefcs-Sheet l Il 11iil 772/632 fo 1.' zdfzzaawz ff Phe! @@@WMM PIE- E Jan. 5, 1954 w. H. PHELPS 2,664,685

ADJUSTABLE FRAME POWER MOWER Filed May 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `an. 5, 1954 TENT ortica ADJUSTABLE FRAME POWER MOWER William Howard Phelps, Ralston, Nebr.

Application May 20, 1950, Serial No. 163,148

(Cl. 56-25A) 4 Claims. l

This invention relates to apower mower, and in particular to a frame for a powermower which is laterally expansible in order that the mower may accommodate cutter blades of various sizes.

Power mowers of the type in which the cut. ting is performed by a horizontally rotating blade suspended beneath a platform are customarily manufactured in several different sizes for different operating conditions. This has necessitated dies, jigs and molds for frames of various sizes, and no single mower has been convertible from one blade size to another.

This invention provides a mower platform which is laterally expansible, or extendible, so that a single set of frame members may be assembled in different relationships to: one another to permit the manufacturer to produce a normal line. of different sized mowers with a single set of dies, molds, and so forth. Furthermore, by providing an extensible blade, it is Ipossible for the individual owner of a power mower to adjust the cut of his own mowing ma chine to accommodate it to varying conditions.

The principal object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a power mower in which the mower frame is laterally expansible to accommodate mower blades of various lengths.

A further object is to provide such a mower in which the cutter blade is formed of ar plurality of pieces so as to be adjustable to several different lengths.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mower constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially in section, taken as indicated along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with a rear portion of the frame broken away and the frame in its narrow adjusted position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the frame in its most ex tended position, and the space between the rear wheels correspondingly increased; Fig. 4 is a plan view of an adjustable mower blade suitable for use with the adjustable frame; and Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of such a mower blade.

Referring to the drawings, in greater detail, the mower comprises a central frame member I0 which affords a lplatform for a motor II which is connected by a belt I2 to a pulley I3 at the top of an upright shaft I4 on a mower head I5 which is supported adjacent the forward portion of the central frame member I0. The shaft I4 extends below the central frame member I0 and has a mower blade I6 at its lower end.

The; central framev member; It has a pair of axle brackets IT to receive an, extensible rear axle indicated generally at I8. The rear axle comprises extension members I9 and 2U which are oppositely threaded to engage a connecting screw 2l byl mea-ns of which the length of the axle may be varied so as to increase or decrease the span between rearwheels 22 and 23 which are mounted on the extension members I9v and 2i). To facilitate adjustment of the axle a hand wheel is preferably provided on the screw 2l.

A pair of flanking frame members 2i and; 2 5 are pivoted at the rear of theY central frame member I0 on pivots 26 and 2l, respectively; and the forwardvportions of the flanking frame memb,ersV 2@ and 25 have pins Q -2l and 2id-29, respece tively, which engage respectively with slots 3i), SI, 32 and 33- on the central frame member I0 so as to guide the flankingframe: membersin various positions of adjustment. Preferably the front pins 2l and 29` are bolts, and arev provided with nuts so that the flanking frame members may be releasably secured in. any position of adjustment between the collapsed position of Fig. 2 and the extreme extended position of* Fig. 3. The flanking frame members are provided with the usual guard skirts 240i and 25a.

At theA front corner of each of, the flanking members 2.4i and 253 are front, wheel mounting` plates 34 and 35 which are bolted to the flanking frame members and `act as pivot supports for front wheel shifter arms 36 and 37. The front wheels 38 and 39 of the mower are journalled upon the stub-axles 46 and 4I of the shifter arms 36 and 31. By mounting the front wheels 33 and 39 upon shifter arms they may be brought into parallel alignment with the rear wheels 22 and 23 in any adjusted position of the flanking frame members 24 and 25. Furthermore, if desired the front wheels may be completely shifted to the forward Iposition of Fig. 3, so as to permit use of the mower to cut close against lateral obstructions, such as walls.

A front guard i2 is mounted upon a pivot 43 so that it may be turned up to the retracted position shown in broken lines in Fig. l; and a latch 44 is provided to detachably retain the guard 42 in the retracted position. This is to permit use of the mower to cut close to the trunks of trees, or even to cut down small trees which may be in the area to be mowed.

The adjustable frame arrangement disclosed above permits the mower manufacturer to produce a full line of mowers of different sizes from a single set of dies. However, if it is desired that a purchaser of the mower shall be able to change the size of the mower to fit varying conditions an adjustable mower blade may be provided, and this is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. It is understood however, that the mower may be provided with a standard mower blade, rather than the adjustable blade here illustrated. The preferred mower blade is formed of a mounting portion i5 provided with a series of adjustment apertures 4S, and a similar set d1. The extensible members i8 and i9 of the mower blade may be assembled with the mounting portion 135 by attachment with bolts 59 and 5i respectively, which may be selectively placed through any oi the apertures d5 and lll in order to vary the length of the mower blade. tion 55, is of course, provided with a central opening 5i by which it is fastened on the mower shaft lli.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A power mower having a laterally expansible frame, comprising: a central frame member having a substantially solid top plate; a pair of rear wheels journaled on said central frame member; an upright mower head supported on the central frame member and having a shat extending through the frame provided with a horizontal mower blade which is free to rotate below the central frame member; a pair of anking frame members each of which has a solid top plate and a depending skirt along its outer margin which extends below the level of said mower blade, said flanking frame members being mounted so that their forward portions may be laterally adjusted with respect to the central frame member; a front wheel at the forward corner of each flanking frame member; and means for adjustably securing the forward portions of the flanking frame members to the central frame member so as to vary the span between said skirts.

2. A power mower having a laterally expansible frame, comprising: a central frame member having a substantially solid top plate; a pair The assembly porof rear wheels journaled on said central frame member; an upright mower head supported on the central frame member and having a shaft extending through the frame provided with a horizontal mower blade which is free to rotate below the central frame member; a pair of flanking frame members which have substantially solid top plates and skirts along their outer margins extending below the level of said mower blade, said anking frame members being pivotally secured to said central frame member at their rear ends whereby the span of said frame between said skirts may be adjusted to accoii modate mower blades of several lengths; means for adjustably securing the forward ends of said flanking frame members to the central frame member; front wheels mounted on shifter arms at the front corners of said flanking frame members, said shifter arms being pivotally mounted to permit alignment of said front wheels parallel to the rear wheels in any adjusted position of the flanking frame members; and means for locking said shifter arms in any desired adjusted position.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the rear wheels are mounted on an aXle which is eaten.- sible to adjust the span between said wheels.

4. A power mower as specied in claim 2 which the mower blade is formed of a pluraiity of pieces which may be secured rmly together' with any of several predetermined degrees of overlap so as to permit adjustment of the length thereof.

WILLIAM HOM/IARD PHELPS.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PAHNTS Number Name Date 1,302,489 Eollis Apr. i919 2,165,551 Iverson July 1l, 1939 2,528,277 Humes Oct. 3l, 1950 2,529,797 Cauble Nov. 14, 1950 2,559,897 Phelps July 10, .i951

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 719,071 France Feb. 1, 1932 884,069 France Apr. 12, 1943 

